Awesome park! (Universal Studios (Florida))

Member Name: flowerpot19

Product:	Universal Studios (Florida)
Date:	15/10/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some really unique and fun attractions!

Disadvantages: Usual theme park disadvantages - main rides get very busy - can be expensive

No trip to Orlando would be complete without a visit to Universal's original Florida Theme Park. The Park was opened in 1990, the parks theme was the entertainment industry - particularly films and famous TV shows. The park allows its guests to "ride the movies".

Originally Universal Orlando was just one theme park - Universal Studios. However in 1999 there was a major expansion of the resort which added an additional theme park, hotels and an entertainment complex. As a result you no longer enter directly into a park but walk through the resort to get to the theme parks you wish to visit.

As you approach Universal Studios you get the opportunity to take your photograph by the world famous revolving Universal globe. I have been to Universal several times and most times I purchase tickets in advance - either on the internet or through a travel agent. However one time I did not do this and had to queue up - it may have just been bad luck on my part but it took me over an hour to get my tickets and get into the park. So I would definitely recommend purchasing in advance - you can usually get better deals this way too.

The park is mostly set around a lake, the entrance is actually on the left hand side of the park so as you enter you can either go straight on or to the right. I always turn right and walk around the park that way as I find most people tend to go the other way. Heading in this direction the first attraction you come too is Terminator 3D. This is a 3D show based on the Terminator films. Whilst young children can go on this ride it can be quite jumpy/scary for young kids. Further round is an area designed for smaller children with attractions based on Woody the Woodpecker, Barney and an ET ride - my husband thinks ET is a really rubbish ride and wont go on it - but I think its quite fun. Next up you come to the newest attraction of the resort - The simpsons ride. For those of you who have been previously the Simpsons ride took over from the Back to the Future ride - I was originally disappointed in this as I thought back to the future was good - just needed modernising a little. However the new Simpsons ride is brilliant! I think its very well done - even the queuing area is quite fun! There is even a Quik-E-Mart shop!

Walking further round you will come to another key attraction - Men in Black Alien Attack. This is another brilliant ride - your seated in a little car and are given guns. You travel through different scenes and you need to shoot the aliens - the person with the highest score wins. It might sound boring but it really is good fun - hard to describe really.

Continue walking around and you will come to another of my favourite attractions - Jaws. The whole area is themed like the town from the film right down to the hanging shark in the centre and the carnival games. As you keep walking round you will come across several other brilliant attractions - Disaster, Twister and the Mummy. The mummy is a rollercoaster so this is not suitable for small children - the other two are shows so great for everyone. As you keep walking around you'll come to the final area of the park which has a Shrek 4D simulator ride - this is another excellent ride in my opinion - worth noting that the seats move in this so if your not keen on this idea you can ask for a stationary seat. Opposite this is Jimmy Nutrons Jet toon blast - this ride may look like its for Kids but I found it one of the most entertaining rides in the park! Very funny!

This really is a park worth visiting! It is quite expensive but if you check on the Internet I have always been able to find good deals!

Summary: Great day out!